United States deals heavy blow to UN funding

On Sunday, the United States applauded a $285 million cut that had been made in the U.N.'s core budget, after the General Assembly adopted a $5.396 billion budget for 2018-2019, just below the $5.4 billion that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had sought.

"The inefficiency and overspending of the United Nations are well known", Haley said.

She added, "This historic reduction in spending, in addition to many other moves toward a more efficient and accountable United Nations is a big step in the right direction".

Over 120 countries have openly defied United States President Donald Trump's motion to recognise the city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

News of the leaner operations comes days after a widespread rebuke by United Nations member countries on President Trump's controversial decision to deem Jerusalem the capital of Israel.

Although the resolution issued by Egypt did not directly name U.S. President Donald Trump or the U.S. government, it affirmed that any decisions and actions aiming to change Jerusalem's identity should be considered null and void.

Countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Jordan, Turkey and Indonesia protested the move.

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The resolution, backed by nations with long records of extreme human rights abuses, passed 128-9 last Thursday.

The 21 countries that were absent from voting on the resolution were: Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, El Salvador, Georgia, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Mongolia, Myanmar, Republic of Moldova, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome-Principe, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Timor Leste, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Zambia.

USA had warned of tax cuts and before the vote began, reiterated their status once more.

"While we are pleased with the results of this year's budget negotiations, you can be sure we'll continue to look at ways to increase the UN's efficiency while protecting our interests", said Ambassador Haley. "That vote at the Security Council and the General Assembly should be responded to and Nikki Haley, who has become a real hero, did exactly the right thing". She then added, "No vote in the United Nations will make any difference on that".

Among the 128 countries that voted yes for the resolution (opposing the USA recognition) were: New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. However, the 14 to 1 result was still interpreted as a unified stance against Trump's controversial decision on December 6 to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital city instead of Tel Aviv. "Thank you, Nikki Haley", Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on his Twitter account. "We don't care", he added.

Only nine voted No, and supported the United States position, including the Pacific islands countries of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and the Marshall Islands, along with Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Togo and the USA.

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